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ChatGPT vs Claude: which should you pick?

ChatGPT is the general assistant, and Codex rides along on a paid ChatGPT plan. Claude is the long-document assistant, and Claude Code starts at Pro.

Editorial scores, unchanged by this page: ChatGPT 4.6 · Claude 4.7.

The tools

  • ChatGPT

    4.6

    OpenAI's general assistant for writing, coding, analysis, images, and file work.

    Visit

  • Claude

    4.7

    Anthropic's assistant for long documents, careful rewrites, and coding help.

    Visit

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Comparison

What it is

ChatGPT

OpenAI's general assistant for writing, coding, images, and files. The pricing page also describes Codex and ChatGPT Work as features of the same plans.

Claude

Anthropic's assistant for chat, files, and long work. Claude Code is a row on the same pricing table, not a separate subscription.

Best for

ChatGPT

People who want one assistant for mixed everyday work, including some coding.

Claude

People who want a long draft or Claude Code, and who will pay at least Pro.

Pricing model

ChatGPT

Freemium. On 1 Nov 2026 the ChatGPT pricing page named Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise and did not print a dollar amount on the individual cards. The same day the Codex page listed Plus at $20, Pro at $100, and Business at $20 for 2 or more seats billed annually, and said Codex is included in the ChatGPT plan.

Claude

Freemium. On 1 Nov 2026 Claude listed Free at $0, Pro at $20 a month or $17 a month with $200 billed up front, Max at $100 a month, and Ultra at $200 a month. Prices exclude tax. The FAQ says Enterprise is $20 per seat a month plus usage at API rates, billed annually.

Free tier

ChatGPT

Yes. Free includes unlimited everyday text chats with GPT-6, subject to abuse guardrails, plus limited uploads, image creation, voice, deep research, memory, and limited Codex. ChatGPT Work on Free is limited to the desktop app.

Claude

Yes. Free includes limited usage every 5 hours and every week, chat on web, desktop, and mobile, and file and code tools. The feature table sets Claude Code to No on Free and Yes on Pro, Max, and Ultra.

Platforms

ChatGPT

The pricing table lists access on web, iOS, and Android. Plus and Pro add ChatGPT Work on desktop, web, and mobile. The Codex page says the same agent runs in ChatGPT, an editor, and the terminal.

Claude

Web, iOS, Android, and desktop, per the pricing table. Claude Code is included on paid plans and shares their usage. The FAQ says terminal work and chats draw from one pool.

Key strengths

ChatGPT

A free general assistant with a path into Codex. Plus, as priced on the Codex page, is $20 and includes Codex usage for focused coding sessions each week. Pro at $100 is the higher usage tier on that page.

Claude

Claude Code without a second subscription, from Pro up. Max is 5 times Pro usage every 5 hours and every week. Ultra drops the 5-hour limit for verified accounts and is 10 times Pro weekly usage. Max includes $100 a month of API credits. Ultra includes $200.

Limitations

ChatGPT

The ChatGPT pricing page did not print a Go, Plus, or Pro dollar amount on 1 Nov 2026. Do not treat the Codex page's $20 and $100 as a Go price. The Go price was not on either page. Free Codex is limited.

Claude

Claude Code is off on Free, so a coding session requires Pro or above. Usage is shared with chat, on a 5-hour window plus weekly limits. A long coding session spends the same allowance as chat. Heavy work can move to usage credits.

Prices were checked against the sources below on Nov 1, 2026. They exclude tax unless a source says otherwise, and they change. Where a figure could not be pinned down, the cell says to check the site.

Pick one

  • Pick ChatGPT if

    you want one general assistant for writing, questions, and files, and Codex is a feature of the ChatGPT plan rather than the whole product.

  • Pick Claude if

    you are writing from a long document, or you want Claude Code, and you will pay Pro at $20 a month or $200 for the year.

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Questions

Is ChatGPT or Claude better?
The directory scores are 4.6 for ChatGPT and 4.7 for Claude, and this page does not change them. ChatGPT is first on the chat shortlist as the generalist. Claude is first on the writing shortlist for long drafts. Pick by the job, not by the tenth of a point.
How much is Claude Pro?
On 1 Nov 2026 the pricing page listed Pro at $20 if billed monthly, or $17 a month if you pay $200 up front for the year. Max is $100 a month. Ultra is $200 a month. Prices exclude tax. Claude Code is included on Pro, Max, and Ultra, and off on Free.
How much is ChatGPT Plus?
The ChatGPT pricing page on 1 Nov 2026 named Plus and did not print a dollar amount on that card. The Codex page the same day listed Plus at $20 and said Codex is included in the ChatGPT plan. Go was named on the ChatGPT page, and neither page printed a Go price.
Does Claude's free plan include Claude Code?
No. On the 1 Nov feature table, Claude Code is No for Free and Yes for Pro, Max, and Ultra. The FAQ says Claude Code shares the plan's usage with chat, and that a Console account can bill API credits instead.
Does ChatGPT's free plan include Codex?
Only in a limited way. The ChatGPT pricing page lists limited Codex on Free and on Go, Codex as included on Plus, and expanded Codex on Pro. The Codex page prices Plus at $20 and Pro at $100.

On VibeStack

Sources